Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars marketing drugs to doctors. But one state in particular takes the cake, California. That’s where legislation SB 790 comes in. Passed on Thursday, May 18th 2017, the bill itself would ban drug companies from giving gifts to doctors, such as airline tickets and lavish meals.

As reported by KRCR News Channel,

“The facts are clear. Current voluntary efforts are not enough. California physicians and medical professionals lead the nation in the number of gifts taken, over $1.4 billion in 2014. SB 790 will curb financial payments, gifts and incentives to medical professionals and help drive down the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs for millions in California,” Senator McGuire said.

The bill is modeled on a Vermont law enacted in 2009 banning pharmaceutical companies from giving perks to doctors.

“Doctors who receive industry gifts such as meals, travel, speaking fees and royalties were two to three times likely to prescribe costly name-brand drugs than equivalent generic drugs that were lower priced, according to a recent study by University of California, San Francisco.”